Isolo GH treats 545 orthopaedic patients in one year
By Abolaji Adebayo
In the first year of its establishment, the orthopaedic department of Isolo General Hospital has treated 545 patients.
Data released to ECHONEWS by the Hospital, Public Affairs Officer, Mrs Patricia Mordi, indicates that 100 males and 99 females were treated last year
As of September, this year, the clinic treated 227 males and 318 females.
“There was also a significant increase in the number of surgeries done in the department. In 2020, 10 surgeries were carried out, but so far in 2021, 25 surgery cases have been handled, an increase of 150%. Also, in 2020 surgeries were performed on seven males and three females, but in 2021 the number of females that have had surgery jumped to 11, while that of males increased to 14.”
Speaking on the first anniversary of the department, the Medical Director/CEO, Dr Godwin Akhabhoa said it was borne out of necessity, saying its establishment has been justified with the increasing figures of accident victims being attended to.
He expressed satisfaction with the tremendous progress made by the orthopaedic department of the hospital in the past years.
Dr Akhabhoa, who was visibly elated recalled how the emergency unit used to be inundated with patients with broken legs or hands arising from either motorcycle or car accidents which are rampant in the part of Lagos where the hospital is located.
According to him, the hospital could only refer them to other hospitals where they sometimes did not receive adequate care since Isolo had no facility to take care of them then.
Driven by his resolve to change the narrative and proffer solution to the rising accident victims, the multiple award-winning Doctor set machinery in motion and within a short while, an orthopaedic department of the hospital was set up.
“We felt that it is our responsibility to take care of such medical need, we made it part of our strategic plan for last year. To the glory of God, we were able to carry out the plan which gave birth to the orthopaedic department,” he said, adding that with the number of high-profile surgeries done so far, the orthopaedic department, which he described as a child of necessity, has been functioning perfectly.
On the prospects of the department, the Medical Director said: “The sky is our limit. We are working hard, looking towards the future to improve our performance and see that we procure more equipment and get more procedures to perform.”
Dr Akhabhoa said he was looking forward to having more orthopaedic surgeons, nurses and various assistants that will take the practice to a higher level.
He commended the Lagos State government for its giant strides in the health sector of which the Isolo General Hospital is a beneficiary.
“In the next five years, I want to see a large fully functional orthopaedic unit where all the required surgeries like hip replacement, knee replacement can be done by highly trained doctors,” he added.
On the effect of doctors leaving the country for greener pastures, Dr Akhabhoa said it is the patients, the common man, that are on the receiving end.
According to him, the well-to-do can always find their way out of the country to meet their medical needs which everyone cannot afford.
